President Vladimir Putin, left, said his relationship with President Barack Obama 'is marked by growing trust,' but he criticized Obama's claims of 'American exceptionalism.'

Written by

David Jackson
USA TODAY

The White House fired back at Russian President Vladimir Putin for his op-ed article Thursday, saying Russia's own actions prove that the United States is an "exceptional" nation.

"Unlike Russia, the United States stands up for democratic values and human rights in our own country and around the world," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

Carney said the New York Times publication of Putin's column underscores the American commitment to freedom of expression, and "that is not a tradition shared in Russia ... And it is a fact freedom of expression has been on the decrease over the past ...